With the CBC/Radio-Canada licence up for renewal at the CRTC next week, NDP Heritage Critic Pierre Nantel (Longueuil – Pierre-Boucher) is urging the Conservatives to live up to their commitment to provide stable and adequate funding to our public broadcaster.

“The last Conservative budget was disastrous for CBC/Radio-Canada. The cumulative effect of Liberal and Conservative cuts has greatly weakened the public broadcaster,” says Nantel. “CBC/Radio-Canada is the flagship of Quebec and Canadian culture and Canadians value that. In order for CBC/Radio-Canada to continue this role and fulfil its mandate, Conservatives must stop the cuts and provide it with stable and adequate funding. Only then can it guarantee the national and local programming Canadians are looking for. ”

In this regard, Nantel tabled a motion in the House last June urging the government to recognize CBC/Radio-Canada’s crucial role in developing original Canadian content in French and English, supporting the arts and culture industry and offering content that reflects each region. The motion called on the government to reverse its decision to cut CBC/Radio-Canada’s budget and ensure it receives stable and adequate funding. The MP’s motion received support from numerous members of the industry.

“The Conservatives are putting our public broadcaster on the chopping block for purely ideological reasons, the same as they did with science and the environment. Funding must be stable and unaffected by partisanship. The NDP will continue to oppose these cuts and defend CBC/Radio-Canada, which is a Canadian emblem.”